Cam half-moon into bottom-end?

[Dakotakid]

Ramifications of attempting to live with a plastic cam chain half-moon which jumped ship while removing the cam cover on an 850? I think I know, but let's give my ass a paddlin'.

Will this find it's way between the cam chain driver-gear or will it settle to the back of the pan and just stay put?

They were all so damed stuck to the lid that I could not remove with my fingers. Should have used a pair of pliers to remove.

THIS is the reason we do a sponge count over and over in the OR during surgery.

[7981GS]

Do you have one of these Pick-up tools?

http://www.calcentron.com/pictures/general_tools_inst_pics/general_tools_ultratech_70396.JPG

[Dakotakid]

It is not visable. Nor is it magnetic.

[OldVet66]

I dropped one on the floor once and never found it again, are you sure it went in the motor?

[chuck hahn]

I would pull the pan and find it before even 1 crank of the engine. Even if it doesnt jam the cam chain and wind up just getting chewed up, I wouldnt want small particles floating around to clog small oil passages or anything else.

[chef1366]

They may be magnetic since it is coated metal.
Did it go into the cam tunnel or another oil drain? If it went into the cam tunnel it will not travel to the oil pan. If it didn't it will be there for sure.
If it went into the cam tunnel it may travel back up to the head with the chain and wreck havoc on your cams and such. If it went down an oil drain it will be in your oil pan which is easy to drop.

[Dakotakid]

Yes, I believe it fell into the cam chain tunnel.
It parted company as I slide the cam cover out.

Did a floor search last night. Will search the entire structure of bike and floor again today. Will see if the others are metal. Hard-earned lessons. Very frustrating.

[7981GS]

Find a good/bright flashlight and see if you can grab it with the pick-up tool.

Eric

[MisterCinders]

Find a good/bright flashlight and see if you can grab it with the pick-up tool.

Eric

This.

I dropped one of those rubber cubed fin guards down the cam chain tunnel once. With a flash light and some chopsticks, after much cursing, I fished it out.

[hampshirehog]

Drop the oil pan and flush some derv down the cam tunnel. It'll come out.

[chef1366]

On the 1100s there is a part that keeps the cam chan from going into the pan and little half moons.
Not sure about the 850.

[Dakotakid]

Headed out to try everything which has been listed...except pulling the pan right now. Never try to work on a bike in a small darkish place. You overlook stuff and it is embarrassing and it sucks.
Will post back. Thank you.
At least I found out today that the local dealer will (told on telephone) swap out as many shims as I need for a total of $5 (total). Some things I just gotta see to believe!

[Sci85]

Wow, that's one cool dealer. Good luck on the fishing expedition!

[Dakotakid]

Well, today I lucked out and did retrieve the moon with a $4.50 telescopic magnet. They sure are metal and the magnet had a sincere attraction to it. It was on the 7th or so try. Almost didn't get the magnet out several times!

The local Honda/Suzuki shop foreman did allow me to swap shims for the quoted $5.00 charge. I sheepishly unloaded the thicker ones I had for some 2.45, 2.50's, and 2.55. I thought he would balk at exchanging the 2.70's....I was expecting bad news and kept my billfold out to quickly retrieve a few more if needed. This allowed me to set all valves to the 0.08 side of things. Very happy.

Oddly enough, exhaust bucket #3 refused to rotate in it's bore to allow easy removal of the shim. The shim would clearly rotate, but not the bucket. Eventually, I loosened the exhaust valve and had to use a very sharp pick and some carb spray cleaner to remove the shim.

After reassembly, the bucket still refuses to rotate. I rolled the engine over with the wrench multiple times and watched the bucket dip and rise, and remeasured the clearance several times. All seems well, but, I have never seen a bucket do this in all the VW bucket/shim engines I have. This bike is really quite pristine and runs that way as well. Do you suspect the bore is grooved or the bike sustained a too-hard initial break-in? No, I never had any cold-engine ticking or anything such as that. No missing. No signs of trouble.

[tkent02]

After reassembly, the bucket still refuses to rotate. I rolled the engine over with the wrench multiple times and watched the bucket dip and rise, and remeasured the clearance several times. All seems well, but, I have never seen a bucket do this in all the VW bucket/shim engines I have. This bike is really quite pristine and runs that way as well. Do you suspect the bore is grooved or the bike sustained a too-hard initial break-in?

I would guess at some time someone dropped the bucket on the floor, or in some other way bent it just a little bit out of round, or maybe a piece of grit or something got between the bucket and it's bore and wore a groove...
Just a guess.
Pull it out and measure it if you are concerned.